Ok my newly acquired 1969 firebird convertible is ready for the road and I am un sure how to plate it / insure it. I live in PA and the car is completely stock minus Crager wheels. I want to drive it on Sundays to my moms or to get ice cream or the occasional car show. What should I do? Is there a milage requirement with Antique plating?
Each State varies in their laws and requirements, so you should verify with your local DMV.
But speaking in general terms with your description I'd say 'antique'. You generally pay a one-time fee, can get regular or custom plates, and never have to pay a DMV fee again. Regular plates you pay an annual fee.
If you plan to drive your vehicle to and from work or use the word "commute", then they will force you to get regular plates, and your insurance provider also would not license it as an antique (or classic) vehicle.
The DMV does not have a maximum miles driven, but 'some' insurance carriers do. (I'm not sure how they would monitor it though)
All of my 'birds are licensed and insured as 'classic / antique'. They earned it, why not badge them that way?
I should add that in Minnesota, classic / antique starts at 20 years old. Not sure about other States like CA. Out there, 'classic' cars seem to start at 40-50 years old.
I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure. I feel like I am diagonally parked in a parallel universe. 1968 400 convertible (Scarlet) 1976 T/A - 455 LE (No Burt) 1976 T/A New baby, starting full restoration. 1968 350 - 4 speed 'vert - 400 clone (the Beast!) 1968 350 convertible - Wife's car now- 400 clone (Aleutian Blue) (Blue Angel) 2008 Durango - DD 2008 GXP - New one from NH is AWESOME! 2017 Durango Citadel - Modern is nice! HEMI is amazing! 1998 Silverado Z71 - Father-daughter project 1968 400 coupe - R/A clone (Blue Pearl) (sold) 1967 326 convertible - Sold 1980 T/A SE Bandit - Sold
I have lived in several states and always checked into the plates for my Firebird in each one not knowing when I would get it back on the road. Usually, a car is eligible for "antique" plates if it is 25+ years old and is insured with classic car insurance (i.e. Haggerty). The mileage restrictions are usually either from the state itself or the insurance company but they commonly center around not using the car daily or for "commuter" use. In other words, used solely for pleasure and such things as attending car shows. Some states, like here in AZ, also exempt you from smog testing (excellent).
I consider the "antique" plates here in Arizona to be just butt ugly and the ones in Oklahoma were plain and boring vanilla white, so I have always researched further into "Year of Manufacture" plates for each state. I have picked up quite a collection from Ebay as I kept moving around.
But as mentioned above, we can generalized all we want to - but you will have to check the specifics for your state.
2012 Mustang Boss 302 #1918, Competition Orange. FGF replacement 2006 Mustang V6 Pony, Vista Blue. Factory ordered. 2019 BMW X3 (Titled to the wife, but I'm always driving it for her. So I'm claiming it) Old projects, gone but not forgotten: 1967 FB 400, original CA car. After 22 years of work, trashed by the guy who was supposed to paint it. I had to sell it. 1980 Turbo Trans Am 1970 Mustang fastback, 351C 4Bbl, auto 1988 Mustang GT, 5 speed 1983 F-150 4x4, built 302 1994 Chevy K2500 HD 4x4, 454 TBI
I have always researched further into "Year of Manufacture" plates for each state.
Good point. I have the original, (from day one), MN license plates for one of my 'birds that I run with. (had to buy collector plates too, but run the MN plates on one, and a set of MN '68 (non-licensed) plates for another. Have collector plates on the other cars.
The day one plates were in absolutely perfect condition. I think I had to straighten out one small dent. Was cool to find those in one of the many boxes of parts and confirmed the originality with the DMV.
Thanks for the reminder Salmon!
I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure. I feel like I am diagonally parked in a parallel universe. 1968 400 convertible (Scarlet) 1976 T/A - 455 LE (No Burt) 1976 T/A New baby, starting full restoration. 1968 350 - 4 speed 'vert - 400 clone (the Beast!) 1968 350 convertible - Wife's car now- 400 clone (Aleutian Blue) (Blue Angel) 2008 Durango - DD 2008 GXP - New one from NH is AWESOME! 2017 Durango Citadel - Modern is nice! HEMI is amazing! 1998 Silverado Z71 - Father-daughter project 1968 400 coupe - R/A clone (Blue Pearl) (sold) 1967 326 convertible - Sold 1980 T/A SE Bandit - Sold
My "collection" stated with the original black/yellow California plates that were on my car at the time of purchase that I sent off to "that guy" in PA to have restored. It only took 3 years, but they are really nice.
Then I got a set of '67 plates for Texas, cleaned them up, touched up the paint, then clear coated them with a satin finish. But I moved to OK.
The OK '67 plates have just been sitting in the envelope they were shipped in as they were in great shape. The bizarre YOM rule in OK was that I would have to keep the original "modern" plate someplace in the car. But then I moved back to AZ.
The never used '67 AZ plates are just waiting for me to go to the ADOT office to officially swap them out and pay the YOM fees. The car was so far from running during my 1st stint in AZ that I never got plates for it that time.
Another weird note is that OK changed their mainstream license plates 3 times during the 8 years I lived there. They just could not seem to meet the Fed criteria for night reflection.
2012 Mustang Boss 302 #1918, Competition Orange. FGF replacement 2006 Mustang V6 Pony, Vista Blue. Factory ordered. 2019 BMW X3 (Titled to the wife, but I'm always driving it for her. So I'm claiming it) Old projects, gone but not forgotten: 1967 FB 400, original CA car. After 22 years of work, trashed by the guy who was supposed to paint it. I had to sell it. 1980 Turbo Trans Am 1970 Mustang fastback, 351C 4Bbl, auto 1988 Mustang GT, 5 speed 1983 F-150 4x4, built 302 1994 Chevy K2500 HD 4x4, 454 TBI
MN says you 'can't run with "restored" license plates'.
I always wondered how they would be able to tell...?
Just smear a couple of bugs on them and they will look original.
I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure. I feel like I am diagonally parked in a parallel universe. 1968 400 convertible (Scarlet) 1976 T/A - 455 LE (No Burt) 1976 T/A New baby, starting full restoration. 1968 350 - 4 speed 'vert - 400 clone (the Beast!) 1968 350 convertible - Wife's car now- 400 clone (Aleutian Blue) (Blue Angel) 2008 Durango - DD 2008 GXP - New one from NH is AWESOME! 2017 Durango Citadel - Modern is nice! HEMI is amazing! 1998 Silverado Z71 - Father-daughter project 1968 400 coupe - R/A clone (Blue Pearl) (sold) 1967 326 convertible - Sold 1980 T/A SE Bandit - Sold
South Carolina has the same "rule" as well, but I had the plates redone on both my 67 C10 and 65 Mustang. I think I found a set of plates for my 68 Bird I'm going to buy. Basically, I bought a set clean enough for pics to send to the DMV (required) then had them restored after. It's one of those "rules" I'm sure no one cares about as long as the plates are similar to their original color scheme.
Multiple license plates are available from PennDOT for historic vehicles:
The Antique Motor Vehicle plate is for vehicles that are: Over 25 years old (based on the year of manufacture). AND Close to their original design and condition, either through maintenance or restoration. The Classic Motor Vehicle tag is for vehicles that: Were made at least 15 years before the year you apply for the tag. AND Maintain most of their original appearance and condition. The Vintage Motor Vehicle license plate is: An authentic PA license plate issued the year your vehicle was manufactured that you have acquired yourself. (PennDOT does not issue these plates.) AND For vehicles made from 1906 to 1976.
Fees for historical license plates vary:
Antique or classic plates: $78. Add $104 to personalize the plate. Vintage license plates: $78 vehicle registration. PLUS $78 vintage plate application fee.
Personally, I love the YOM plates, so I'd go for "The Vintage Motor Vehicle license plate" option.
I have my 65 Mustang Coupe insured for 25K through Hagerty for $200/yr. I have the 68 Bird through them as well for $170/yr for 20K (currently unrestored). I do not have my C10 with them because for some reason Hagerty wants $400/yr to insure my C10??? I have an agreed value of 8K on the C10 (it's actually too low) with State farm for $300/yr with a 5K mileage limit. Does not have to be garaged either (out of garage space).
Last edited by Sixty8Coupe; 07/24/1803:37 PM.
1968 Pontiac Firebird - 250/3Spd 1967 Chevrolet C10 - 350/700R/3.73 1965 Ford Mustang Coupe - 289/T5/3.25 2015 Silverado Z71 - 5.3L - 2011 Ford Mustang - 3.7L -
In Massachusetts, which has a stupid law for everything followed by a tax or fee, if you get an antique plate you are limited to driving exclusively in "exhibitions, parades or public events." This would exclude ice cream runs or general Sunday cruising. Now the catch is that no self respecting cop in the world is ever going to give you a hard time about the antique plate so just do it, and even one with no self respect would of course need to prove you were not on your way to or from such an event. However for the small savings I pay for the regular registration and drive all I [censored] well please. My insurance limits me to 2500 miles per year however. Good thing for me the odometer hasn't worked in a decade!
